The Baltimore Orioles struggled this past week, losing four straight games from May 5 through May 8. Two of the losses came in a two-game series against the Mets in New York, followed by losses in the first two games of a four-game series with the Yankees, also in New York. Fortunately for the O’s, they were able to end the losing funk with a win in Game Three of the series with the Yankees on May 9. Baltimore carries a 13-15 overall record, currently good for fourth place in the American League East division standings.
Baltimore Orioles Manny Machado reacts as he crosses the plate after hitting an eighth-inning solo home run off New York Mets starting pitcher Bartolo Colon in a baseball game in New York, Tuesday, May 5, 2015. Home plate umpire Jeff Kellog is at left. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
May 5-6: O’s Lose Two-Game Series to Mets
Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones (10) catches Lucas Duda’s sixth-inning flyout at the center field wall in a baseball game against the New York Mets in New York, Tuesday, May 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Baltimore lost Game One to the Mets by a 3-2 score on May 5, thanks in large part to the stellar pitching of the Mets’ 18-year veteran starting pitcher Bartolo Colón, who became the first pitcher in more than a century to beat the Orioles with at least seven different teams. Colon struck out nine batters and didn’t give up a run until deep into the eighth inning, when Baltimore tried to make a late surge after trailing, 3-0, since the fourth inning. Manny Machado smacked a home run in the eighth inning off Colon to cut the lead to 3-1, thenChris Davis hit a home run in the ninth inning to cut the lead to 3-2. But the Orioles ran out of homers and fell short of the late comeback. Bud Norris got the start at pitcher for the O’s, and pitched a solid game, lasting seven full innings. However, Norris gave up all three of the Mets’ scored runs in the fourth inning.
The Orioles continued to struggle offensively in Game Two, losing, 5-1, to the Mets on May 6. Baltimore had nine hits as a team but couldn’t find ways to get to home plate, allowing the Mets to run away with the lead. Starting pitcher Ubaldo Jiménez allowed six hits and three earned runs in just four innings pitched. Jiménez’s reliever, Brad Brach took over in the fifth inning and immediately gave up two more runs, including a home run.
May 7-9: Baltimore Loses First Two, but Wins Game Three
Game One of this series with the Yankees was similar to Game One against the Mets: Baltimore struggled batting and gave up just enough runs to lose a low-scoring affair by the score of 4-3. The O’s produced just six total hits as a team, although Jimmy Paredes and Caleb Joseph both hit big home runs for the birds. But Chris Tillman started at pitcher for the Orioles and had, perhaps, his worst game of the season, allowing 10 hits and four runs, including a home run, in less than six full innings pitched.
The O’s lost Game Two of the series, 5-4, on May 8. This time Baltimore was able to produce more offensively, recording 10 hits as a team with four runs scored. But starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez struggled on the mound, giving up five earned runs in just four innings pitched. With the lead, the Yankees’ bullpen was able to hold off the Orioles for the tight win.
Baltimore was finally able to put together a combination of good batting and good pitching in Game Three of the series, beating the Yankees, 6-2, on May 9. Wei-Yin Chen got the start and shined, striking out seven batters while allowing just one run with five hits in seven full innings pitched. Davis, Paredes and Alejandro De Aza each hit home runs for the Orioles as they snapped their losing skid.
Next: Baltimore will close out its four-game road series with the Yankees in Game Four on May 10, followed by a three-game home series against the Toronto Blue Jays May 11-13. The O’s then host the L.A. Angels in a three-game series May 15-17.